Tinian North Field, Northern Marianas, the largest US air base during World War II. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) wants more time for residents to share their thoughts about the United States military's plans for the territory.
CNMI's delegate to the US Congress Kimberlyn King-Hinds said the CNMI administration will be requesting a 60-day extension on the comment period for the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Mariana Islands Training and Testing and CNMI Joint Military Training.
"I know that the governor will be submitting a request for an additional commenting period, 60 days," she said.
She said CNMI's leaders might have to sit together and be very strategic in terms of responding to the plans.
The first-term congresswoman said the draft EIS is the CNMI's best opportunity to make requests on the impact of heightened military activities in the Commonwealth and the mitigations that need to be built in.
"I do know there are a lot of conversations happening both in the House and the Senate with regards to additional footprints here today and making additional investments, whether it be the port rehabilitation at the roads back to the North Field.
"But that we should put our collective heads together and work with the governor and have a firm statement, a firm statement in terms of specific asks in response to the EIS," she added.
King-Hinds said she agreed with Senator Jude Hofschneider's comment during the town hall meeting that the impact of the CJMT will be significant on Tinian.
She said that is why the CNMI should make its specific asks now, so those requests can be included in the National Defense Authorisation Act.
"I've been tracking and communicating with Allen Perez [Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan's chief of staff] with regards to some of the asks for remaining funds for the roads, for example. And so, you know, there's more than one way to skin the cat, and we're all, we're doing it all.
"I'm really happy that the governor, if you know what I mean, is down to put our heads together and begin to work," she said.
Last month, four community groups from the CNMI and Guam-From Luta, For Luta, Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, Tinian Women's Association, and Our Common Wealth 670-as well as dozens of concerned community members and the diaspora, called for a 45-day extension on the comment period for the Draft EIS.
The original draft EIS 75-day public review and comment period started on 6 June and its deadline is 20 August.
Aside from the Apatang-Mendiola administration's request for an extension, King-Hinds also discussed and answered a myriad of questions from the around 50 people in attendance during the townhall meeting.
The venue of the From the Hill to the Vill event-the Tinian Youth Center-represented King-Hinds' first foray into government services as she served as its director in the early 2000s.
During her time as head of the Tinian Youth Center, King-Hinds said she used creative ways to pay staff by seeking the help of the Work Investment Agency.
The center also used to have a swimming pool, and she commissioned a replica of the Washington Monument on its premises-a portent of things to come as far as her political career went.
